For Kicks by Dick Francis

For Kicks by Dick Francis

For Kicks (Michael Joseph, 1965; Harper & Row, 1965) is an early stand-alone from former steeplechase jockey turned author Dick Francis (1920-2010) who wrote nearly 50 books and won multiple awards. It starts with Daniel Roke, a successful horse breeder and...
Friday’s Forgotten Book: Dead Man Manor by Valentine Williams

Friday’s Forgotten Book: Dead Man Manor by Valentine Williams

Valentine George Williams (1883-1946) was a British journalist and author. His father was G. Douglas Williams, the chief editor of Reuters News Agency, giving Valentine exposure to writing, journalism, and literature from his cradle. As a Reuters journalist Williams...
Death’s Bright Angel by Janet Neel

Death’s Bright Angel by Janet Neel

Death’s Bright Angel by Janet Neel (Constable, 1988), the first of seven books about Detective Chief Inspector John McLeish and Francesca Wilson, a civil servant in the Department of Trade and Industry Ministry, won the John Creasey New Blood Dagger for an interesting...
Friday’s Forgotten Book: Murder in the Moor by Thomas Kindon

Friday’s Forgotten Book: Murder in the Moor by Thomas Kindon

Murder in the Moor by Thomas Kindon (Methuen, 1929; E.P. Dutton, 1929) is the only known mystery by Kindon, who himself is an enigma. The manuscript was entered in Methuen’s Prize Competition for Detective Fiction and achieved third place. Just who Kindon was and why...
The James Joyce Murder by Amanda Cross

The James Joyce Murder by Amanda Cross

Why do we not talk about the Kate Fansler mysteries these days? Contemporary readers are missing out on a wonderful character, sound plots, and witty, literate writing. These books are positive gems. I read the series years ago and found a copy of the second one...